The Business and Human Rights Centre responds to the announcement that access to social media will be banned in the UK for users under 16.

Gayatri Khandhadai, Head of Technology and Human Rights, Business and Human Rights Centre, said: “This move is not just about child safety, but about the long-term sustainability of business models that rely on trust while failing to address known harms. Holding Big Tech to account has been one of the most complex challenges of the last decade, and it’s increasingly clear that existing accountability mechanisms have got nowhere near addressing the persistent risks.

“Regulators, courts and policymakers are increasingly scrutinising not just surface level content moderation but the underlying design of platforms that drive addictive use as a core business model from their very foundation. The message to these companies is increasingly clear: if companies fail to do better in addressing harm, they may face greater restrictions on access to certain users, markets and jurisdictions.

“Regulatory intervention, litigation and reputational damage are rising risks for companies and their investors, particularly for platforms reliant on young users, and repeated failures to prevent harm raise serious questions about long-term value. Ultimately, tech companies must get to grips with the fact that when trust in their platforms breaks down, regulation does not follow as an option; it arrives as an inevitability.”

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Notes to editors:

• Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRC) is a global organisation working at the intersection of business and human rights. With partners and allies worldwide, we seek to put human rights at the heart of business to deliver a just economy, climate justice, and end abuse. Find out more about our approach here.
• Media contact: Priyanka Mogul, Senior Media Officer, Business and Human Rights Centre ([email protected] / +44 20 4591 4944